Shadowing Practice: Job Inquiry | IELTS LISTENING TEST | SECTION-1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Section 1 You will hear a man phoning to inquire about a job vacancy.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
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You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.
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On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
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good evening king's restaurant good evening i'm ringing about the job
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i understand you have vacant oh yes the job vacancy is at a restaurant
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so a restaurant has been written in the space now we shall begin you should answer the questions as you listen
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because you will not hear the recording a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions one to four.
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Good evening, King's Restaurant.
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Good evening.
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I'm ringing about the job.
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I understand you have vacant?
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Oh, yes.
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I'd like to find out a few more details, if I may.
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Yes, of course.
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Can I take your name?
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It's Peter Chin.
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Okay, Peter.
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Well, if you want to ask about the job, and then if we're both still interested, we could arrange for you to come for an interview.
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Great, thanks.
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I'm afraid I missed the advert for the job, but heard about it from a friend.
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That's no problem at all.
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What would you like to know?
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Well, um, what sort of work is it?
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Washing up?
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It's answering the phone.
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Oh, right, fine.
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And not waiting at table.
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That'd be good.
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And how many nights a week would it be?
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Well, we're really only busy at the weekend.
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So, two nights?
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Three, actually.
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So it would work out at twelve hours a week.
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That'd be fine.
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It wouldn't interfere with my studies.
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Are you at the university?
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Yes.
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First year physics student.
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Oh, right.
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Um, and because I'm not an EU national, would I need a work permit?
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Yes, you would.
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Just get your tutor to sign it.
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That wouldn't be a problem if I were to get the job.
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Um, where exactly is the restaurant?
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Well, we have two branches.
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The one we're recruiting for is in Hillsdun Road.
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Hmm, I don't know
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that how do you spell it please it's h i double l s d u double n e road got
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that thanks is it near a bus stop yes the nearest
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one would probably be just beside the library oh yes i know it that'd be fine for me
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and could i ask about the pay we're offering £4.45 an hour.
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That's very good.
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My last job was £3.95 an hour.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
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We feel it's pretty good and we also offer some good fringe benefits.
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Really?
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Well, we give you a free dinner, so you eat well.
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Right.
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Better than hostile food.
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We certainly hope so.
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And we also offer extra pay for working on national holidays.
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Oh, that's a really good perk, isn't it?
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Yes, we think so.
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And then because of the difficulties of getting public transport, if you're working after 11 o'clock, we drive you home.
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Oh, that's good to know.
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Well, we'd certainly be interested in inviting you for an interview, if you're still interested.
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Oh yes, certainly.
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Could I just also ask what qualities you're looking for?
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Well, for this particular job we want a clear voice, which you obviously do have.
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Thanks.
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And you must be able to think quickly, you know.
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Well, I hope I...
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So, when could you come in for an interview?
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We're actually quite quiet tonight.
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Uh, sorry, I couldn't come tonight.
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Or tomorrow, I'm afraid.
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Uh, Thursday's okay.
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That'll be 22nd of October.
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Fine.
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After 5pm?
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Yes, fine.
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Would six o'clock be okay?
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Perfect.
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And could you bring along the names of two referees?
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Yes, that's fine.
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No problem.
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Good.
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I look forward to seeing you.
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Oh, uh, by the way, who should I ask for?
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Oh, yes, of course.
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Sorry.
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My name is Samira Manuja.
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Uh, can you spell that, please?
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M-A-N-U-J-A.
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Okay.
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I've got that.
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Thanks very much.
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Look forward to seeing you later on then.

Why Practice Speaking with This Job Inquiry Video?

Practicing with this video is a fantastic way to master real-world English speaking in a job inquiry context—one of the most common situations where clear communication matters. The dialogue mirrors natural conversations, helping you learn how to ask questions, clarify details, and respond professionally. Whether you’re preparing for the IELTS or just want to improve your everyday English, this video lets you practice shadowing (repeating phrases aloud to match tone and rhythm), a technique proven to boost fluency. Platforms like shadow speak tools or shadowing sites can enhance this practice, but even repeating the video alone builds confidence in practical scenarios.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The conversation is packed with useful structures. Here are key ones to note:

  • "I'm ringing about the job I understand you have vacant." This uses a reduced relative clause ("you have vacant") to sound natural—common in spoken English. Practice this to avoid over-formal phrasing.
  • "Would I need a work permit?" Modal verbs like "would" soften questions, making them polite. This is crucial in professional settings.
  • "How do you spell it please?" The placement of "please" at the end (instead of "Could you please spell it?") shows casual politeness, a key trait of conversational English.
  • "It wouldn't interfere with my studies." The conditional "wouldn't" is used to express hypothetical outcomes, a structure often tested in IELTS and vital for clear communication.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Several words in the video can trip up learners. Watch out for:

  • "Hillsdun Road" The double "l" and "double n" make this tricky. Listen closely to the pronunciation: "h-i-double l-s-d-u-double n-e" to avoid misspelling or mispronouncing place names.
  • "Vacant" The stress is on the first syllable ("VAY-kant"), not the second. Misplacing stress can make words unrecognizable.
  • "Interfere" The "er" sound in the middle is short, not long. Practice saying "in-ter-FEER" to match the natural rhythm.

Improving English pronunciation with this video means focusing on these details—skills that shadowing tools or learn English with YouTube resources can help refine. By mimicking the speaker’s tone and stress, you’ll sound more natural in real conversations.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.